Gasoline shortages continue in the wake of super storm Sandy, with rationing still in effect in New York City and Long Island. With at least 35,000 people still without power, gas is critical to run those generators, which has resulted in an unus
Hurricane Sandy created a crisis that slammed the Northeast, and it’s caused historic gasoline lines. Now it’s creating something you don't hear a lot about in America—the black market.
Desperate motorists have been able to find a way to bypass those long lines by tapping into a thriving black market in gas, but it doesn't come cheap.
All you have to do is just check out ads on Craigslist to find available gas.
One ad offers fuel for $10 bucks a gallon. That's a 150% markup.
INSIDE Edition’s Lisa Guerrero called on one ad, "Hi, I'm calling about your ad on Craigslist. I need to get some gas."
The advertiser told her all she had to do was meet him in Brooklyn, NY. She went with a hidden camera to videotape the transaction.
"Nice to meet you, I'm Arthur," said the man. He boasted about his thriving black market business that he operates out of the trunk of his car.
"Yesterday, people kept calling me. I didn't have enough. If I had a gas truck, I'd probably become a millionaire," said Arthur.
After Guerrero handed over her cash, she told him who she was. "Don't you think you're gouging people if you're charging $10 a gallon for gas? There's a crisis here," she said. He wasn't so chatty anymore and walked away without saying a word.
Just a few miles away, we met another guy who was peddling black market gas, also for $10 a gallon. He said business was brisk and was giving us a bargain at $10 a gallon. “I can get more for it, but I'm not going to be greedy,” he said.
After she paid him, he filled up Guerrero’s gas can. Then, she signaled the crew waiting in a surveillance van. "I'm Lisa Guerrero with INSIDE EDITION. Are you gouging people desperate for gas right now?"
"No, I'm not actually…I’m helping people out and at the same time, helping myself out," he said.
But some blackmarketeers are looking for more than a quick profit.
We found an ad on Craigslist that said, "Gas for cute females." In other words, sex for gas.
Guerrero agreed to meet the guy in a restaurant parking lot in New Jersey. He was very cautious when talking to Guerrero, asking, "You're not a cop?" When she assured him she wasn’t with law enforcement, he got down to business and asked, "Would you do sex?"
"So, if we go someplace and have sex, you'll fill up my car?" Guerrero asked.
"Yes," he said.
"Are you comfortable in the parking lot over there?" he asked just before Guerrero broke the news that his creepy offer was being exposed.
"I'm Lisa Guerrero from INSIDE EDITION and I don't really want to have sex with you for gas. Don't you think it's wrong to take advantage of desperate women for gas?" she asked.
"Get out of my face," the man responded.
So, for those guys trying to profit from a natural disaster like Hurricane Sandy, watch out, because your next customer might be the INSIDE EDITION I-Squad.
